White Album 2 Omake/Story04/Epilogue

Epilogue - The Love That Will Not Reach

May, at the end of the break.

In other words, the following day.

"Ah, good morning Io! Takeya-kun!"
"........."
"........."
"... what's wrong?"
"Umm, we're just a bit surprised."
"With having you say good morning at this time..."
"A-Ahaha..."

... and the time was 12:22 PM.

"Classes only happen for the morning, right?"
"In other words, it's time to head back home."
"A-Ahahahaha..."

Proof of that came from her meeting the two at the campus gates.

It's just that she happened to bump into them as they left.

"What were you doing last night? When did you fall asleep?"
"I-I was just kinda stuck in the holidays. Ended up staying up late, you know!"

There was no way for her to say.

About why it was that she couldn't sleep late at night...

"Though, you do seem quite refreshed now, Setsuna-chan."
"Fueeh!? W-Wait, you could tell...!?"
"Wait, wait, something up? Had something good happen during the holidays?"
"Ah~ during the holidays! Yup, yup, just sleeping from morning until evening!"
"Look, the university idol shouldn't be saying things like that..."
"You can tell us that sort of thing, but if others hear it'll be all over the Internet."
"Ahaha, you're right, ahahahaha!"

What Setsuna did last night was far too shady and suspicious, so the answer she gave to their normal question ended up particularly tense, and could have been taken in a lot of ways.

However, building up tension naturally like that came from...

"... well, whatever."
"Yeah, whatever, right?"
"... we'll leave it be~"

Setsuna shaking something off.

And from taking a step forward, no matter how small it was.

"Well then, should we all go grab something to eat?"
"Good plan! I haven't eaten anything since this morning."
"That's because you only woke up just now, isn't it?"

It was trivial for the two people, who called themselves her best friends for three years, to see through her.

"Then, let's go... though they're not doing morning service anymore."
"Hey, let's go for Yoneda Coffee! We can stay there for a while if we want!"
"Let's skip that thing with tsubuan on top, okay?"

Once they finished talking, as always Takeya would take long steps while Io would take quick ones. Not able to begin slowly, the two went into a race.

Whether or not Haruki was here, Setsuna kept her own pacing, taking slow steps from behind, giving a bit of thought as to what to talk about during lunchtime.

Maybe it'd be some things regarding Tomochika from last night.

Maybe it'd be how Haruki was Haruki as always.

Maybe it'd be how it was pretty easy to tell what he'd do.

So maybe she might speak a bit fondly about him.

Maybe it'd be Haruki seeing Takeya as his best friend compared to Tomochika.

Maybe it'd be how Haruki would respond if Takeya confessed to her.

Maybe lunch might be interesting.

Maybe she didn't like speaking fondly of people other than herself...

――Even if it's a love that will not reach...

"!!"

Unconsciously, a melody had almost slipped out of her mouth.

But it vanished the moment it was about to leave.

Which was why in the end, she kept it to herself, so that no one else would hear...

"Just now..."

It was the melody of the standard winter number in the campus.

But it was a melody that she had never sung for the past two years.

She never sang it.

She didn't want to sing it.

And probably, she would never sing it.

But that song oozed out just now, being indulged in just a faint amount of happiness...

――Hey, Haruki-kun.

Which was why Setsuna looked back at the campus gates.

More precisely, at Building 3 up north where she'd gone.

――Hey, Haruki-kun.

You know, I really do like singing.

......... I, really do.

And probably to face the person she thought of.

――The truth is, one day I want to sing again.

And the truth is, I want to be saved.

"He~y, Setsuna-cha~n!"
"What are you doing staring out over there, let's get going~!"
"Ah, oka~y! Wait up~!"

Setsuna started running off.

At a pace different from the pace she'd taken for two years.

――So I can't give up, I can't give up...

My feelings will definitely reach him.

Even if our bond had been given pause for a moment.

If he himself won't change.

And, if my feelings won't change...'

Setsuna started running off.

Holding herself back, one step at a time, as she moved forward.

――But right now, I can't sing.

And probably, I won't be saved right away.

But, one day, I'd like my feelings to be set free, along with this song.

So, the moment I sing, will be when he hears me sing.

When... he desires for me to sing.

Until then.

Until, then...

Notes

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